BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The top-seeded Long Island University women's volleyball team (19-8, 15-1 NEC) swept No. 4 seed Mercyhurst University in the semifinals of the NEC Volleyball Tournament on Friday night, advancing to the NEC Championship Game for the second time in the past three seasons. 

The Sharks battled with the Lakers throughout the first half of the opening frame, as each side stood tied at 15. However, the Sharks scored on 10 of the final rallies, capped off by a kill from sophomore Mia Rojas-Avila. 

LIU led by two through the first 20 points in the second set, later extending its lead on an 8-2 scoring run to set up a 25-18 win in the second set.  

The Sharks dominated the third frame, moving on in the NEC Volleyball Tournament with a 25-14 win in the final set. 

Junior Yasmeen Muhammad, sophomore Bella Correia, and junior Sara van Gisteren all finished with a team-high 10 kills. Senior Karly Klaer recorded 38 assists, while sophomore Miabella Musignac totaled 11 digs in the win. LIU had a team hitting percentage of .442, including a team-high .833 by Muhammad.  

LIU advances to face No. 2 seed Saint Francis University in the conference title game, played at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22 inside the Steinberg Wellness Center. The Red Flash defeated No. 3 seed FDU in five sets earlier on Friday.